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While travelling to Seychelles, you will have chance to enjoy some of the world's most delicious cuisines that is actually a fusion of flavours from African, French, Chinese, Indian and English cooking. For a long time, spices have been combined to create an unique...
Moyenne Island
Moyenne Island is a small 24 acre island in the Ste Anne Marine National Park off the north coast of Mahé, Seychelles. Since the 1970s it has been a flora and fauna reserve. In the 1960s, a former newspaper editor, Brendon Grimshaw purchased it for about 10,000 dollars. Until his death in July 2012. He was the only inhabitant of the island.
He along with his friend, Rene Antoine Lafortune, a Seychellois, operated the island as a nature reserve, charging visitors €12 to come ashore, roam the island, dine at the “Jolly Roger” restaurant and relax on the beach.
Grimshaw and his friend did an enormous amount of work to develop the island to be incredibly beautiful. They planted sixteen thousand trees, built 4.8 kilometres of nature paths, and brought and bred Aldabra giant tortoises. They also brought in 2000 birds.
Grimshaw was the quintessential islander and a devoted lover of nature who poured his love for Moyenne into the island for nearly half a century. He even refused an offer of $50 million for the island, saying that he did not want the island to become a holiday destination for millionaires, but rather a national park for everyone to enjoy.
His friend Lafortune passed away in 2007.
Finally, in June 2008, after years of struggle to protect his island from privatization, Grimshaw’s Moyenne Island was declared a National Park in Seychelles.
In 1996, Grimshaw wrote a book about himself and the island, entitled A Grain of Sand.In 2009, a documentary film was produced about Grimshaw and the island, called A Grain of Sand.It is now known as the Moyenne Island National Park and forms part of the Ste. Anne Marine National Park just north of the capital Victoria. It has more species per square foot than any other part of the world.
There is a restaurant on the beach which is a haven for tourists.
Seychelles Dives
Silhouette Island lies 20 km northwest of Mahé in the Seychelles. It is the third largest granite island in the Seychelles. It has an area of 20.1 sq.km. The main settlement is La Passe, where the Hilton Hotel is located. The name Silhouette was given in 1771 after the French minister of finances under Louis XV, Étienne de Silhouette. The French were, from this point on, closely intertwined with the history of the island, especially the Dauban family, who gradually acquired the whole island, clearing the forest to cultivate cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, and especially coconuts. During this time they employed up to 1000 workers on the plantation. The mausoleum of the Dauban family is found amidst the plantation. They were wealthy and powerful.
Many of the villagers have left the island and so most of the population is made up of conservationists and hotel staff numbering about 200.
The planter’s old house in La Passe was renovated, and the stylish colonial mansion now serves as one of the seven restaurants of the island’s villa hotels, offering Creole cuisine to island guests.
In 1983, the island was purchased by the state from a French Group which owned it at that time, and now it belongs to the Seychelles Island Development Company. Following this a small hotel was constructed. and this was later replaced by the larger Labriz Resort which was then bought by the Hilton hotel group.
The interior region of Silhouette is a national park, with hundreds of endemic birds, reptiles, and plants. In one of the island’s own breeding stations, two species of turtle which were once considered extinct were re-discovered in 1995, researched, and released.
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa was built in La Passe in 2006, and offers a total of 100 rooms to guests. The island has no roads or cars, but with just a few footpaths and electric carts belonging to the Hilton Seychelles.
Silhouette offers many attractive walking trails with the starting point always in La Passe. Grand Barbe, is a four-hour trek and the path is mostly in the shade of the dense forest, so the temperature is never too hot during the day. The gorgeous Anse Mondon is another attractive destination that is a two hour hike from La Passe.
Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
The Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve which opened in 2013 is not yet widely-known, yet it is well-worth visiting when you are in Praslin. With an area of 122 hectares, Fond Ferdinand is more than six times larger than Vallée de Mai, and is even richer in terms of endemic plant and animal species, including roughly as many Coco de Mer palms as the Vallée de Mai.
The entrance fee here is much cheaper than at the Vallée de Mai, and a personal guide is always included. As there are no more tours after 13.00, visitors should arrive in the morning.
This reserve is more than six times larger than Vallée de Mai, and is even richer in terms of endemic plant and animal species, including roughly as many Coco de Mer palms as the Vallée de Mai. It will take two or three hours to get to the viewpoint through the winding path along the valley. From the viewpoint you can enjoy a beautiful view of Praslin island itself, as well as the other inner islands of the Seychelles. In one direction you can see Curieuse, Sister Island, Coco Island, Round Island, Felicité, and La Digue, while in the other direction you can spot Frégate, Mahé, and Silhouette. If the weather is clear, you may even be able to spot Denis Island on the horizon.
Aride Island Nature Reserve
Aride Island Nature Reserve
A visit to Aride Island in Seychelles will show what the islands were like 250 years ago before human settlement. Aride is the northernmost island of the granitic Seychelles. It covers roughly 68 ha, is 1.6 km long and 0.6 km wide. Aride hosts one of the most important seabird populations in the Indian Ocean with more breeding species than any other island in Seychelles. The island is managed as a nature reserve by Island Conservation Society of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants in the island are the reserve’s staff, including the Island Manager, Conservation Officer and rangers.
The guided two-kilometre tour starts at the house of the former island owner and takes about two hours.
The island is covered by lush vegetation consisting of coconut palms as well as broadleaf trees, guavas, bananas, oranges, papayas, aubergines, ginger, turmeric, and chillies. The highly fragrant Wright’s gardenia is an endemic plant species which grows up to 6 m high and is decorated with red and white calyx. Because of their small, lemon-shaped fruits the locals gave them the name “bwa sitron”.
Island Conservation Society acquired the lease of the island in 2004, when the freehold was passed from Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts to Island Conservation Society UK. Island Conservation Society is a Seychelles NGO operating conservation centres throughout the islands.
Aride holds more seabird species than any other Seychelles island. The island has ten breeding species. Two of the bird species were formerly considered critically endangered by IUCN and conservation work on Aride has helped to secure their future. Reptiles include one of the highest population densities of lizards in the world. In every hectare there are over 2,700 Seychelles Skinks (lizards) and 1,100 Wright’s Skinks, plus five other lizard species, a snake, a terrapin and a giant tortoise.
Poaching leads to declining populations of most seabirds in Seychelles. Poaching comes during the Sooty Tern egg season, from late May to July, when boats visit mainly from Praslin to collect eggs and adult birds. Shearwaters are also a target; sacks of birds are often taken, their wings snapped off. The poaching of octopus and harvesting of sea cucumbers from within the reserve boundary is also problematic.
Beau Vallon Beach
Beau Vallon bay is the most famous and popular beach in Mahé,Seychelles. The beach is popular amongst tourists and locals because of its beautiful scenery, extensive activity options, impressive surrounding infrastructure, and widespread appeal.
There are many accommodations near the beach. There is plenty of public parking next to the beach, and the frequent bus service stops on the road beside the beach, allowing easy-access by car, taxi, or bus.
There is an endless choice of different activities at Beau Vallon in the Seychelles. The beautiful sand and shallow, clear water are well-suited to relaxing on the beach days under the sun.
The fantastic underwater scenery is suitable for snorkelling or scuba diving. The widespread bay lends itself well to try out some surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, or jet skiing without disturbing others.
The numerous excursions and rental options here mean that the only limit is your time. There is often a lifeguard on duty, which contributes to the safe environment of the beach, and is a sign of the popularity of Beau Vallon.
Beau Vallon is also suitable for an evening visit to enjoy the views of a beautiful sunset over the water, as well as the local restaurants and bars, including a nightclub, that can be found next to the beach. With such a variety of different things to do, Beau Vallon is so well-known by tourists and locals alike, and this beach is one of the few ‘must-see’ locations for any Seychelles holidaymaker.
The elegant Boat House restaurant located near Beau Vallon beach, serves up a daily buffet with over 20 traditional Creole dishes. From different curries to breadfruit chips or delicious fish dishes, here, guests can find something to fit their personal tastes without any problem.
Baobab Pizzeria, Mahé, serving Creole and Italian dishes as well as La Plage Restaurant, Mahé, serving creole and international cuisine are also found near the beach.
Tropical Hideaway Apartment is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach of Beau Vallon, is an apartment block consisting of 6 holiday units as well as shops, restaurants, an ATM, a pharmacy, and more.
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (“May Valley”) is a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Praslin, Seychelles. It is a 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times. The island of Praslin consists of a well-preserved palm forest consisting of flagship species of endemic coco de mer, as well as five other endemic palms. Coco de Mer or sea coconut is endemic to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in Seychelles. It has become extinct in other parts of the world. The male flowers continue to produce pollen over a ten-year period. The fruit takes 6–7 years to mature and a further two years to germinate. Coco de mer is the largest seed in the plant kingdom weighing up to 42 kilograms. The palms can grow to the height of 25–34 metres.
The property is protected under national legislation and is managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, a public trust. The management adopted a management plan in 2002. Fire is the major hazard to the property. Tourism managed by the public trust, makes a significant financial contribution to the protection and management of the property. Illegal removal of the seeds is a serious problem that affects future regeneration. The seeds should be collected and planted before they are stolen and sold.
The fruits are sold at a price ranging between €200 and €600. Officially around 1,000 units are sold each year, but through poaching and theft the real number is larger.
The present conservation measures aim to weed out invasive plant species, as well as those introduced by humans such as coffee, pineapple, and ornamental palms and to consistently ensure the original character of the valley as home to the Coco de Mer.
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is a scenically attractive area with a distinctive natural beauty. The natural beauty and near-natural state of the Vallée de Mai are of great interest, even to those visitors who are not fully aware of the ecological significance of the forest. The reserve is an outstanding example of an earlier and major stage in the evolutionary history of the world’s flora.
Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles is the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles. It operates inter-island and international flights and charter flights.
In February 2012 the United Arab Emirates national carrier, Etihad Airways, invested US$45 million in Air Seychelles for a 40% share in the airline following problems of management and profitability.
In January 2018, Air Seychelles closed its sole long-haul Paris route to focus on its regional network in order to ensure its long-term profitability and sustainability.
Victoria Clock tower
Victoria is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Seychelles.
The principal exports of Victoria are vanilla, coconuts, coconut oil, fish and guano. Guano is the accumulated excrement of seabirds and bats. As a manure, guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to its content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Guano was also, to a lesser extent, sought for the production of gunpowder and other explosive materials.
The Mont Fleuri campus of the University of Seychelles is in Victoria. There are two cathedrals in Victoria, Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Anglican St Paul’s Cathedral. There are also Baptist and Pentecostal churches, mosques and Hindu temples.
Seychelles International Airport is located in Victoria. The inner harbor in the east of the town serves the tuna fishing and canning industry. There is a clock tower in the city which is modeled after Little Ben in London.
Victoria market is the heart of the capital. It was built in 1840 and renovated in 1999. People buy local fruits, vegetables, spices and fish from this market.
To the north of the market is Revolution Avenue, where more snack restaurants, travel agencies, and a large supermarket are found.
To the south of Victoria is Eden Island, which is a more up-market residential area, offering contemporary design, luxury villas, elegant bars and restaurants, a marina, and a shopping centre.
One of the most visited attractions in Victoria is the colorful Hindu temple at Quincy Street.
Vallée de Mai
This cool and shady National Park, in the granitic island of Praslin, is one of the best places to visit in Seychelles for nature lovers. The Vallée de Mai is a 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times.
There is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the island of Praslin. This park preserves a prehistoric forest that contains at least 4,000 examples of the rare giant coco de mer fruit palm, which is endemic to Seychelles. The park features other plants such as vanilla orchids, palmist, latanier, splayed traveller’s palm, and Chinese fans. There are plenty of wild animals and creatures in the park.
One can access the park by public bus, taxi, rented car, organized tour or walking. A fee is payable to visit the island.
A Visitor Center provides information to the tourists. There are free guided visits at 9 am and 2 pm. But a private tour which lasts 11/2 to 2 hours is considered to be better.
Anse Volbert
Anse Volbert (also known as Côte d’Or) is one of the island’s most popular beaches in Praslin. The calm waters are suitable for swimming with small children. Sun-seekers and snorkelers visit this beach which is not crowded. A visitor can enjoy surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing, and sailing, with plenty of rentals and excursions available. This is one of the main resort areas. There are hotels and restaurants lining the beach. There are parking spaces all over the adjacent road, and the bus also stops along this beach.
One can visit the shore at any time, free of charge. More information on this beach can be found on Seychelles Tourism Board’s Anse Volbert page.
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